Cancer markers

Abstract

The invention related to methods of diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, the methods comprising determining the level of one or more gene products. In addition, the invention relates to modulators of the gene products for use in treatment of cancer. The genes include EIA-induced genes and Numb.

1. A method of determining susceptibility of a breast tumor in a patient to treatment with an inhibitor of Notch signaling comprising:
 providing an assay sample of breast tumor tissue obtained from said patient; and 
 determining the Numb status of said sample, wherein a lower level of Numb is associated with susceptibility of the tumor to treatment with a Notch inhibitor. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the Numb status of said assay sample comprises determining the level of Numb protein in said sample. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises comparing said level to a reference level obtained from a control sample. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering an inhibitor of Notch signaling to said patient. 
     
     
       5. The method  claim 4 , further comprising measuring Notch activity in a sample obtained from a patient prior to and subsequent to the administration of said inhibitor. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein measuring Notch activity comprises measuring the expression level of at least one gene whose expression is regulated by Notch.